Turbo Granny is a scary yet hilarious yokai (a supernatural being) in Dandadan. She shows up as a ghostly old woman haunting a tunnel, with sharp teeth, long limbs, and a creepy grin. Her name comes from her insane speed, which makes her incredibly dangerous.
While she begins as a mean and foul-mouthed spirit, things take a turn when she’s defeated and trapped inside a maneki-neko (lucky cat) doll. From that point, she grudgingly helps the main characters, Ken Takakura (Okarun) and Momo Ayase.
Turbo Granny’s Story
Turbo Granny starts out as a malicious spirit, terrorizing anyone who enters her tunnel. She’s notorious for cursing people and even stealing men’s reproductive organs as a form of punishment. This behavior ties into her warped sense of justice, where she sees men in the tunnel as threats. The tunnel itself has a grim past, filled with violence and sorrow, especially involving young women. Once, Turbo Granny tried to protect the spirits of these women, but her anger and bitterness twisted her into something much darker.
When Okarun and Momo encounter her, she curses Okarun and takes his “kintama” (testicles), claiming it’s a punishment. Despite her cruel methods, it’s clear her actions are fueled by a messed-up moral code rather than pure evil. After Okarun and Momo defeat her, she’s sealed into a doll by Momo’s grandmother, Seiko Ayase. In this powerless state, she reluctantly helps them retrieve Okarun’s stolen parts, though she’s clearly not happy about it.
She’s not pure evil, though. While she haunts the tunnel and curses intruders, her actions are partly rooted in tragedy. The tunnel, her domain, holds a grim history where many young women were assaulted and killed. In her earlier days as a yokai, Turbo Granny showed compassion by comforting the spirits of these girls, acting as a guardian for their restless souls. Her haunting presence was less about harm and more about protecting these spirits and discouraging further violence in her territory.
Is Turbo Granny Based on a Real Legend?
Turbo Granny is inspired by Japanese urban legends, particularly the tale of “Turbo Baba” or “Turbo Bachan.” This ghostly figure is said to race down highways at impossible speeds, often frightening drivers by tailgating their cars or flashing her lights. Some stories say she causes accidents to punish reckless drivers.
This legend probably began as a warning against dangerous driving, a common theme in Japanese folklore where spirits enforce moral lessons. Dandadan takes this story and cranks up the weirdness, turning Turbo Granny into a supernatural speed demon with a mix of terror and humor. While the original legend focuses on highway encounters, Turbo Granny’s version is much more chaotic and fits perfectly into the bizarre world of the manga.
How Was Turbo Granny Defeated?
Turbo Granny was defeated through quick thinking and teamwork. After cursing Okarun and stealing his “kintama,” she chases him and Momo. They try to fight her off, but she’s too strong, using her insane speed to overwhelm them. With help from Seiko Ayase, Momo and Okarun come up with a plan.
To weaken Turbo Granny, they force her to possess Okarun’s body, allowing him to fight back for control. Just as she regains her strength, they lure her to a railway track, where a train passes through a special barrier set up by Seiko. This barrier traps Turbo Granny, and Seiko uses her skills to seal her into a maneki-neko doll.
This takes away her power and turns her into an unwilling ally, setting the stage for her hilarious and chaotic relationship with the heroes.
Powers
Cursing Ability
Turbo Granny possesses a terrifying curse that targets anyone who attempts to escape her grip. This curse causes her to steal the victim’s genitals, resulting in a horrifying transformation. The victim’s body morphs into one that resembles Turbo Granny’s, while their consciousness is consumed by the yokai, leaving them trapped within her control.
Possession
Turbo Granny can possess others, turning their bodies into monstrous versions of herself. When she takes over, the victim gains her appearance and abilities. This power is also a way to extend her reach if she’s physically restrained or trapped.
Telephone Travel
She uses this skill to surprise her enemies, appearing in places they think are safe. It’s an unconventional but clever use of her speed and understanding of energy, allowing her to bypass physical barriers and join battles almost instantly.
